Wire-drawing machine



Dec. 29,1925."

R 16,236 F. B. CROSBY W RE DRAWING MACHINE Original Filed Afigust 1920 2 Sheets-5&eet l I] woe 11 I01 F. B. CROSBY WIRE DRAWING MACHINE Original gl ug s I 1920 2 sheets-"sheet 2 flzdy .1211 7a Ill citizen ,of the United States.

\Vorcester, in the county of 'orcester and Reissued Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED Bl CROSBY. OF WORCESTER,. MASSACHUSETTS, ASSTGNOR '1-0 MORGAN CON- STRUCTION COMPANY. MASSACHUSETTS.

Original in. 1,4821248, dated ifanuary 29, 1924, Serial so. 401,340, filed August 7, 1920. Application for reissue filed August 7, 1925.

To all ref. m it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fin-1n B. Cnosur, a residing at (o'mmonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a i1"e-.l)rawing Machine, of which the "following, together with the accompanying drawings, is aspeeification.

My invention relates to wire drawing machines of the-type in which a rotating drum or block is employed, whereon the wire 1s wound as it is drawn through a reducing die.

The objects 0t my inventionare to provide animproved form of wiredrawlng block and to provide a novel'arrangement of parts in connection therewith, whereby the blocks may be operated in'units to obtain the most useful and efficient results for the wiredrawing installation, as a whole. More particularly my invention contemplates a reversible wire drawing unit comprising a pair of blocks each adapted for selective and alternate connection to a suit able ommon driving means so that either block of the pair may function as a draft device or as a supply means. These and other advantageous features of my invention will hereinafter more fully appear, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whiclh- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing a plurality of my improved wire drawing blocks arranged in units in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the units shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 isa sectional view along the line 3-3 at Fig. 2. Y Figure 4 is a partial sectional view along the line -l+i-, Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a pers 'iect-ive view details of the coiling cage used in connectiou with one of the wire drawing blocks.

Figures 6 and T are diagrammatic views showing the different waysot drawing Wire on a single unit.

,end of a countershaft.

showing the WIRE-DRAWIN G MACHINE.

Serial m. 48,907.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement of a plurality of wire drawing units.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the difierent figures.

referring to Fig. 1, there are shown a pair of wire drawing units A and B, each of whicheomprises a bench 1, upon the top of which are mounted wire drawing blocks 2.. Projections 3 are provided between each pair of blocks 2 for supporting suitable drawing dies, which will be hereinafter re ferred to. A bench 1 with a pair of blocks 2, together with the apparatus for driving the same, constitutes a single unit, and as each" unit is substantially the same in construction,only one unit need be described in detail. v

Referringnow toFigs. 2,- 3 and 4, each block 2 is provided with a vertical arbor that is rotatably supported in a pedestal 5 secured to the'top plate 6 of bench 1. The top plate 6 is provided with annular projections 7 and 7 that are counter sunk, as indicated at 8, to receive a flange 9 at the base of each block 2. An internal gear 10 is secured .to the flange .9 of the. right hand block by set screws 11 as shown in dotted lines, or any other suitable retaining means.

As best shown in Fig. 4, each pedestal 5' is provided with a laterally extending portion 12, within which is journalled the upper A. pinion 14 is carried by a collar '15 slidably mounted on the right hand countershaft 13 and adapted to rotate therewith. The pinion 14 is in mesh with the internal gear 10 in its upper position, and is adapted to be moved out of engagement therewith by means ofa lever 16, the end of which engages an annular groove 17 provided on the collar 15. end of the countershaft 13 is supported in a pedestiil bearing18 and is provided with a spiral gear 19. The gear 19 is in meshwith aspiral pinion 20 carried at one end of a rotatable driving member, here shown as the armature shaft 21 of an electric motor 22. The other end of the al The lower sin'iilarly provided with a spiral pinion 23 that is in mesh with a spiral ear 2% carried on the. left hand COUIltGl'llfifl; 6X- tendin v upwardly into the-left hand block 2. The le t hand block 2 is provided with an internal gear 26, also secured by set screws 11 that is adapted to be an aged by a pinion 2'7 slidably mounted on the countershaft 25 in the same'manner as the pinion 14 of the llgll lt hand countershaft 13L he lever 16 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 28 and its left hand end is'in engagement with the collar,'not shown, which carrles the pinion 27, The shaft 28 projects outside thewall ofthe bench 1 and is provided with a rocker arm 29 having a pro 'jection 30 at its lower end, that is adapted to be embraced by a yoke 31 projecting upwardly from a foot pedal 32. The foot pedal 32 is pivotally mounted at and is adapted to be depressed from either side of its pivotal point. When. the right hand side of the pedal 32 is depressed, as shown in the drawing, the lever 16 is turned about its pivot in a counterclockwise direction -to move the pinion 14 into mesh with the inter nal gear 10 of the ri ht hand block 2, while 1 the pinion 27 is hel 'out-of mesh with the gear 26 of the left hand block. It is obvious that when the foot pedal 32 is depressed on the left hand side; the left hand block 2 will be connected to the motor, while the right hand block remains idle. When the foot pedal 32 is left in a substantially horizontal position, the lever 16 will hold both pinions 14 and 27 outof engagement with their respective internal gears 10 and 26.

The rocker arm 29 is provided with a pair of contact la'tes 34 on opposite sides thereof that are a apted to engage respective pairs of contact members 35 and 36 when the foot pedal 32 is in either of its depressed posi tions. Each pair of contact members 35 and 36 is connected in the electrical control circuit of the motor 22 so that the circuit re mains open when the foot pedal is in its intcrmediate or horizontal position and the motor cannot be started. -lVhen, however, the foot pedal 32 is depressed, either contact plate 34 is adapted to bridge a pair of contact members and so make it possible to start the motor.

A wire drawing die 87 is mounted on the projection 3 between the drawing blocks 2, and a guide wheel 38 is mounted directly above the die opening in order to direct the wire therethrough. A switch lever 39, pivotally mounted onthe top plate 6 at 40, is provided at its up er end-with an opening 41, through which t e wire is adapted to pass on its way through the die 37. The lower end of the lever 39 is provided with a contactarm 42 that is normally adapted to bridge a pair of contact memher 43 also connected in the control circuit of the motor 22.--As

switch levers 39 are placed on both sides of the projection 3, so as to receive wire coming in either direction to the die 37.

Referring again to Fig. 1, a suitable derrick or hoist 4A is pivotally mounted between the wire drawing units A. and B, and is provided with means for raising and lowering a coiling cage 45 and swinging it clear of the benches 1. As best shown in Fig. 5, the cage 45 comprises a plurality of ribs in, converging at fllGd'OP and securedtogc her at the bottom by a ring 47. Each \virc drawing block is provided with a plu- :ulity of slots arranged to receive the ribs 46 of the 45 and to permit the cage to be lowered upon the block. The projection 7 abovewhich the block adapted to turn is provided with a depression 49 to receive the ring 47 when the cage is lowered upon the block. In this position of'the cage 15, the block presents an unbroken periphery so that the wire may be coiled smoothly thereon. Then a complete coil has been drawn onto the block, the ribs 46 of the cage are completely surrounded by the coil. sothat when the cage is lifted off the block by means of the hoist 44, the ring 17 of the cage will strip the coil from the block. The co1npleted coil may then be deposited on the floofbesidc the benches 1, or may be placed upon an adjacent block for further drawing.

Obviously the cage 45 may be used in con-- nection with a hoist carried by-an overhead conveyor extending above a number O'fdlflV".

ing block units. I 4

Referring now to Fig. (3, there is shown diagrammatically, the direction of travel of the wire when one block of a given unit is I driven in a given direction of rotation by the motor. In this case, the metal is first drawn off of one side of the block 2 onto the same side of block Q and then, by reversing the motor, off of block 2 onto the same side of block 2. This reverses the travel. of the wire through the die'37 which,

ithas been found, tends to eliminate slivers and breakages of the wire.

\Vhen it is desired to draw from one block to another, without changing, the direction of travel the blocks-2and 2 are arranged to be driven in'opposite directions of rotation by the motor. This may be readilyaccomplished by employing right and left hand spiral pinions on the armature shaft of the motor. The die 37 is placed midway between the blocks With this arrangement,- asiiidicated in Big. 7, and the Ell'ed .geometrical clca r off the blocks after each draft.

wire is drawn oil, of one side of block 2 onto the opposite side of block 2, the wire being drawn down from lhe'top of the free block. The end first drawn onto the, block 2 is then 'drawn downfrom the top of the other side of block :2 onto the opposite side of block without reversing its direction of travel through the die, and without reversing the motor. With this arrangement it is always necessary to draw down from the top of the bundle on be free block, the strands not. being perinittedto cross.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that my arrangement of the blocks in units is particularly advantageous from an operat ing standpoint, for the reason that a single unit may be used successively for successive drafts, OIUPlOyiUg first one block as a drawing means, and then the other. Also, my arrangement is such that when either one of the blocks 2.i s connected to the driving means, the other block is automatically disconnected from and positively maintained in an inoperative. condition With respect to said driving means; consequently there is no chance of both. blocks being accidentally connected to thedriving means atthe same time. In addition, the unit construction results in a standardized product that can be manufactured in quantity one. very economical basis. The individual motor drive for each unit is also very desirable from an operating standpoint, for the reason that the failure of a motor will shut down only one unit of the entire installation, and only such blocks as are in actual use need be operated, thus reducing standby power sses'.

The separate units are readily arranged in any desired relation to each other, which results in a greater economy of building space than has been possible heretofore with a large number of blocks arranged side by side upon a single he'ich. It is obvious that the units can be assembled together to provide either a continuous bench, or. any dearrangement, such as is shown in Fig. Here the several Wire drawing units A, B, C, D, etc. are arranged so that a single hoist is adapted to serve twelve blocks, all of which are readily accessible to the operators, from all sides. This arrangement, in itself, provides a greater degree of safety for the operators, due to the elimination of blades and loose wire from the floor and the provision of passageways.around the units. The operation of the units with a coiling cage and a hoist also results in increased tonnage forthe installatiom'due to the saving of time previously lost in lifting coils on and This heavy lifting has heretofore required the employment of men of exceptionally" strong physique to the exclusion of otherwise skillful operators. It is obvious that either individual jib cranes or overhead travelling hoists can be employed to serve any desired groi'ipii'ig of the units.

ln the actual drawing operation, the use of an adjustable speed electric 'lllOliOl for each pair of blocks permits the successive drafts to he carried on at the highest practical speed and with a maxin'uun output. The motor control can also be designed to give the proper torque characteristics and thereby iiiinii'uizc the strain on the wire and dies at starting.- The employment of individual adjustable speed electric motors also results in a flexibility of control not heretofore obtained, for the motors are ar ranged to be. auiomatically stopped in case the wire snarls before entering the die, and are adapted to he started with automatic control only when either block of a unit is connected to the motor by the gearing.

The simple mechanical construction of each unit permits lifting each block off its driving nieihanisiii for examination andrepair, and also permits the ready inspection oi. the electric motor by lifting off the top plate of a unit.

A further advantage of my arrangement for driving the blocks lies in the fact that the pinions for driving the same apply the driving force or the periphery of the drum, at substantially the point Where the'wire is drawn on the drum. This minimizes the strains caused by the draft and permits a very light weight block to be'einployed.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that by my invention I have provided an improvcd reversible two-block Wire drawing unit whose operation is far superior to ordinary single-block drawing by reason of the fact that first one block and then the other may be employed as a draft. device, alternately with its use as a supply means or reel, thereby avoiding the necessity for removing and handling the Wire between successive drafts. Furthermore, my improved mechanism is adapted .to'be arranged so as to occupy aminiinum amount of floor space, the blocks of each unit being so i'sonstructed and driven as to reduce the Weight of the parts and the power necessary for dri ing the same, all as previously pointed out herein.

I claim,

1. A Wire drawing unit comprising a bench, a pair of blocks mounted on the top of saidbnch, a die located between said blocks, a separate source ofpower located within said bench, and means for selectively connecting said blocks to said source of power to draw wire through said die ineither direction. l

2. A wire drawing unit comprising a bench, .a n r of blocks mounted on the top of said bench, a di located between said bloehs, a separate source of power located within said bench, and means for selectively connecting said blocks to said source of powex, whereby either of said blocks may function as a drawing means or as a supporting means for the material being drawn through said die.

3. A wire drawing unit comprising a bench. rtpair of blocks mounted on the top of said bench, a die located betwe n said blocks, a separate source of power located within said bench. and means for selectively connecting said bloclzs to said source of power, whereby both blocks may be enlployed continuously for successive drafts through said die with either block fllllCtlOliing as a drawing means. W

4. In a wire drawing machine, a bench, a pair of blocks mounted on top of: the bench, a die located between said blocks, an electric motor located within the bench, and means for operatirely connecting. or disconnecting. either of said blocks to said motor to draw wire through said die in either. direction.

5. In a wire drawing machine. a bench, a

.pair of blocks mounted on top oi the bench,

a die located between said blocks, an electric motor located within the bench, gearing for operatively connecting the armature shal t of said motor to either of said blocks, and means for selectively controlling the arrangement of said gearing, whereby only one of said blocks can be connected to said motor at one time to draw wire through said die.

(5. In a wire drawing machine. a bench, a

' pair of blocks mounted on top of the bench,

a die located between said blocks, an electric potor located within the bench, gearing adapted to connect the armature shaft of said motor to said blocks, and means for preventing the starting of said motor until one of said blocks isconnee'ted to said motor shaft to draw wire through said die.

7. In a wire drawing machine, the combination with a bench having a pair of blOCliSlllOUDtGCl on the top thereof, an elec trlc motor located within the bench for driving either of said'blocks, and a drawing die positioned. between said blocks, of means for automatically stopping said motor upon snarling of the wire before it enters the die.

8. In a wire drawing machine, the combination with a bench having a pair of blocks mounted on the top thereof, an electric motor located within the bench for driving either of said blocks, and a drawing die positioned between said blocks, of a switch arm located between the die and the block supportin the material being. drawn for automatic dlly stopping the motor upon the occurrence of a snarl in-the wire.

9. In a wire drawing machine, a bench, a pair of blocks mounted on top of said bench and each provided with an internal gear, a source of power located wlthin said bench, at countershatt extending upwardly -within each block and connected to said bench, and each provided with an internal gear, a sourceot' power located within said bench, 'a counter-shaft extending upwardly within eaclc block and connected to said source of power, a pinion slidably mounted on each countcrshatt, and means for simultaneously shifting said pinions on said counter-shafts to mesh one of said pinions with the internal gear on one of said blocks while the other pinion remains out of mesh with the other internal gear.

11. In a wire drawing machine, the combination with a rotatable block provided with a plurality of slots in the periphery thereof. and an annular depression at the base of said slots, of a coiling cage for said block p nrided with ribs fitting in said slots, and

an annular plate connecting said ribs and receivable l11-S2\l(l depression. w i

'12. In a wire drawing machine, the combination with a rotatable block provided with a plurality of slots in the periphery thereof, and an annular depression at the base of aid slots, of a cage having ribs adapted to fit in said slots to provide a continuous peripheryjfor the formation of a coil on said block, and an annular plate receivable in said depression to be-fiush with the base of said block. i

3. In a. wire drawing machine, a bench, a pair of blocks mounted on top-of said bench and each having a drum portion, a. die located between said blocks, and means for applying a driving force to either. of

said blocks at substantially the point on the periphery of its 'drumportion where the I wire is drawn thereon from said die.

14:. In a wire drawing machine, a block rotatably mounted on a central shaft surrounded by an internal gear,'and a countershaft extending upwardly .within said block and connected to said gear by a pinion slidably mounted on said shaft.

15. In wire drawing apparatus of the class described, apair of blocks, a die located therebetween, and means selectively operable to impart rotation to either of said blocks, thereby todraw wire through said die in either direction.

'16. In wire drawing apparatus of the class described, a. pair of blocks, a die located therebetween, a rotatably driven shaft and means for alternately connecting said blocks to said shaft to draw wire through said die, first in one direction and then in the other, one of said blocks being posi tively maintained out of operative connection with said shaft when the other block .is connected thereto.

17.111' wire drawing apparatus of the class described, a pair *of blocks, rotation imparting mechanism, and means for selectively connecting said blocks to said r0- tati'on imparting mechanism, whereby either 10 of said blocks may function as a drawing means, or as a supply means, for the material being drawn through a die located between said blocks 18.'1n Wiredrawing apparatus of the 15 class deserihed, a pair of lilorks, a die 10- imparting cated. therebetween rotation mechanism, and means for selectively mnnceting said blocks to said rotation imparting mechanism whereby both blocks may be employed for successive drafts through said die with either block functioning as a drawing means.

19.111 wire drawing apparatus, the comhination with a-pair 0t rotatably mounted blocks, of an interposed wire drawing die, and means for imparting rotation to said blocks alternately whereby each block serves alternately as a draft device, to draw wire through said die, and as a supply device for the wire being drawn.

Dated this fourth day of August. 1925.

FRED B. CROSBY 

